Clematis category id

Ilikeplants

If my clematis is in flower now and the flower is kind of large, what category is likely to be for pruning?

punkdoc

Probably Group 2, but not 100%

Obelixx

Do you know its name?   You can look it up on here - https://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemlistsearch.cfm - by name or enter the colour of its tepals and anther colour plus May in the flowering time and then work it out from the answers given.

As @punkdoc says it is likely, but not certain, to be a group 2 but don't worry, you can treat those as group 3 for pruning cut back hard in Feb/March then feed and mulch - and it will give you one longer period of flowering rather than an early short burst and a possible later flowering in late summer.

If you want to keep it as a group 2 wait till this flush of flowers is over then dead head them and trim back any wayward stems exceeding their bounds.  Give it a good feed and it should flower well in late summer.

Ilikeplants

No idea of its name. It’s never got bigger than half way up a pergola post when I thought was going to cover it at least to the top. 

So easiest thing to prune is just let it be and deadhead the flowers so they don’t have those little furry heads?

Fairygirl

Group 2 I'd say. I leave the seedheads on mine. 
It's probably planted a bit close to the post, which always makes it harder for them to get enough room to grow well. They take a good few years to be mature enough to reach their full potential too. 
They also benefit from being fed up until flowering stage. Do you feed it?

Ilikeplants

I can definitely improve the feeding, I’m sporadic at best. If it’s type 2 I’m tempted to see if it reblooms because I’d like it to last a bit longer. It used to have a large peony next to it which probably took some goodness away from the soil so hopefully it’s going to do better now.

punkdoc

Possibly C. Hagley hybrid.

Ilikeplants

punkdoc said:

Possibly C. Hagley hybrid.

Thanks @punkdoc, rhs says if it’s this one then prune it like a group 3 hard in winter/ early spring but can also be left to scramble to the top of the pergola.  

I think I just need to remember to feed it more often as @f@Fairygirl said because it’s done well considering it not had much attention at all last few years.

Fairygirl

When you have lots of other plants around too, that can be a drain on resources for them @Ilikeplants. Plenty of organic matter- later in the year, and in early spring when they're getting going, will also help. You can add compost or similar, at almost any time though   

Ilikeplants

Thanks. I must get in a better habit with feeds and mulch.

Balgay.Hill

Ilikeplants said:

If my clematis is in flower now and the flower is kind of large, what category is likely to be for pruning?

Depends on what country you are in.
No group 2s in flower in NE Scotland.